What can be the potential causes of HMPV?

Question

Hello doctor,

My 3-year-old daycare reported several HMPV cases last week. My son has a high fever (102.3 degrees Fahrenheit), a terrible cough, and has not eaten much for four days. The inhaler from his previous bronchitis is not helping like before. His breathing seems faster than usual, and he is so lethargic. The pediatrician mentioned possible pneumonia but could not get us in until next week. Should we go to emergency? My elderly mom lives with us, and I am worried she might catch it too.

Please help.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern.

The HMPV (human metapneumovirus) outbreak in China is currently severe and the government is working on that to control it.

Firstly, you need to find out if there are any confirmed cases of HMPV from the daycare that your child attends. If yes, then these symptoms could be due to HMPV but, if not, then symptoms could be due to other infections.

Children at this age are very prone to respiratory infections with symptoms like moderate to high-grade fever, cough with sputum, and lethargy, etc. Also raised respiratory rate could be a sign of lower respiratory tract infection. If the child is not responding to the given medicines, kindly go to the emergency as it could lead to further complications like difficulty breathing. For high-grade fever, along with medicine, keep on doing cold sponging as it reduces the temperature quickly.

As your elderly mother lives with you, any respiratory infection to any family members has a chance of spreading to your mother. So always use the mask as a precaution against spreading infection to other members. In the case of a child, it is better to keep the child away from the elderly.

The probable causes: Bacterial infection.

Investigations to be done:

Complete blood count (CBC).

Chest X-ray if symptoms persist.

Differential diagnosis: HMPV considering the current outbreak in China.

Probable diagnosis: LRTI (lower respiratory tract infection).

Treatment plan: Antibiotics depending on the weight and any allergies to the child.

Preventive measures: Use of masks, and handwashing.

I hope this helps.

Kindly follow up if you have more concerns.

Thank you.